Brake bleed using windscreen washer pump
number-1 - 27/3/24 at 05:05 PM
Evening All
I was chatting to someone today about brake bleeding and easy ways to do it alone.We spoke about the usual ezebleed type devices. He said he had heard
of someone making a home brew bleed kit with an old windscreen washer pump, a small 12v battery and a bit of pipe.
Has anyone tried this as it sounds like a pretty good idea.
Mr Whippy - 27/3/24 at 09:36 PM
Just hanging the bottle a couple of meters above the car with a pipe down to a spare cap will do the same thing, that used to be a normal method for
garages when flushing the brakes.
Ezebleed's ok, I have a couple in the garage but the quality is a bit rubbish, especially the gaskets they supply. I bought another brand which
although a lot cheaper was much better made. I had more than once pressurised brake fluid blast out the cap all over the engine bay (great for
removing paint).
Any small electric pump will work, for a while till the brake fluid reacts with it. Will an old screen wash work? yeah no doubt, just don't
expect to use it for anything else after. These day's I use nothing more than a bit of hose and a jar, that's all that's really needed.
It makes me laugh at those one way valves things that claim you now bleed it yourself 
. One way valve? the bubbles float up, not down! what does the
valve do??
Pressss, hold... let go, Pressss, hold... let go that's how to do it 
Or you can have cable brakes... they are very easy to bleed 
[Edited on 27/3/24 by Mr Whippy]
cliftyhanger - 28/3/24 at 07:30 AM
A bit of clear hose into a jam jar, open bleed nipple and watch.
Just needs cap off the resevoir and keep it topped up. Bit slow but it works.... and you can do all 4 at the same time if you are impatient.
And I have heard of somebody using the pump bit of a hand soap bottle to suck brake fluid. The downside of sucking is that you can get air pulled
through the bleed nipple threads, so a dab of brake grease on them helps.
[Edited on 28/3/24 by cliftyhanger]
Mr Whippy - 28/3/24 at 07:37 AM
First rule of cars, keep it stupid simple -
linky
Slimy38 - 28/3/24 at 09:05 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Ezebleed's ok, I have a couple in the garage but the quality is a bit rubbish, especially the gaskets they supply. I bought another brand which
although a lot cheaper was much better made. I had more than once pressurised brake fluid blast out the cap all over the engine bay (great for
removing paint).
For me they work fine, if you completely ignore their instructions!! If you go for anything close to the 20PSI they suggest, then everything starts to
leak. If you drop it to 10 or below then it's much more reliable. I'd be interested in the other brand though, do you recall what it is?
tegwin - 28/3/24 at 01:13 PM
What car is it?
After years of using an ezibleed on my 23 year old polo I discovered that I could use the diagnostic software to make the ABS pump bleed the brakes
for me...
Set the bleed routine running and it tells you which nipple to open....the brakes have never felt so sharp
[Edited on 28/3/24 by tegwin]
Bluemoon - 28/3/24 at 01:19 PM
My advise is pressure bleed if you can, vacuum bleeding is not always successful.